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I think they’ll remember the times they felt safe...<br />
There’s a vulnerability and a need for protection in the heart<br />
of every child, regardless of their age. Our kids will remember<br />
the times we chased the monsters from under their bed, kept<br />
calm during a storm, or talked them through a tough situation<br />
they encountered at school. When children feel safe and<br />
secure, they learn to trust other people. And when they<br />
learn that they can trust the adults around them, it helps them<br />
grow up happy, healthy, and better able to enjoy the world.<br />
I think they’ll remember the times we gave them our undivided<br />
attention...<br />
“Watch this! Mom, watch this!” Lord, how many times can<br />
we “watch this?” But kids measure love basically by our<br />
attentiveness to them. The times you stop what you’re doing<br />
to watch them–or when you go outside to throw the ball or<br />
actually jump on the trampoline–those will be the memories<br />
etched into their hearts and minds forever. Take the time to<br />
do the little things with your kids, because in the end, those<br />
will be the moments that matter most.<br />
I think they’ll remember the way we interacted with our spouses...<br />
We laugh a lot in our house–thank goodness! And,<br />
unbeknownst to him, my child is forming his views of love and<br />
relationships, in large part, by watching how my husband and<br />
I treat each other. I hope to have the kind of marriage that<br />
would make him excited to get married someday–and in the<br />
meantime, it’s nice that he actually still enjoys being around us.<br />
They’ll remember our words of affirmation–and our words of<br />
criticism...<br />
A child’s heart is like wet cement and the impressions<br />
made early in life will harden and become permanent over<br />
time. They’ll base their sense of identity, capability, and even<br />
self-worth largely upon the words we speak to them. And<br />
certainly while part of our job as parents is to correct and<br />
discipline them, our words must be full of love, encouragement,<br />
and positive reinforcement, even when we’re angry.<br />
We must be encouragers. The world certainly has enough<br />
critics already.<br />
So, time marches on. We can’t stop it, rewind it, or fast<br />
forward it. But don’t be fooled by all the pages of a calendar–<br />
there are only as many days of the year as we make use of.<br />
Appreciate every second to the fullest extent possible–and<br />
make every moment count. Even if you’re just starting today.<br />
DONT<br />
MISS<br />
OUR<br />
NEXT<br />
ISSUE<br />
JULY<br />
<strong>2017</strong><br />
18 • <strong>May</strong>/<strong>June</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
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